La Saincte Bible, en Francoys, translatee selon la pure et entiere traduction de sainct Hierome, conferee et entierement revisitee selon les plus anciens et plus correctz exemplaires [...].

2 parts in 1 vol., folio: [20]-ccccix-[1 bl.], [8]-xcix ff. (final bl. M10 at end of New Testament missing, a few leaves with sl. stains or marg. wormholes, margins skillfully repaired to first and last ff., with sm. loss of text to last quire, some clear damp stains, a few upper margins cut short shaving running titles, sm. loss of text to f. M5 with old ms. restitution on a paper cut).

17th-c. dark calf, spine with raised bands, red edges (recased, sm. restorations to head and tail, flylvs renewed). Fine copy.

Rare first edition of the complete French Bible, known as the Antwerp Bible, translated by Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples (c. 1455-1536), theologian, philosopher and humanist. Lefèvre's version of the New Testament is based on the 1516 Latin edition by Erasmus. Title of the Old Testament printed in red and black within woodcut border, calendar partly in red, headings of Canticles in red, title of New Testament within woodcut border and numerous woodcut illustrations in the text. With leaf k6 blank at end of Psalms which is often missing.
Ref. Nijhof & Kronenberg 417. - Adams B-1126. - Darlow & Moule 3708. - Delaveau & Hillard 329. - Machiels B-454. - Pettegree (NB) 3709. - De Bijbel van Tyndale, n. 80, pp. 140-141.
Prov. Several 17th-c. ms. entries: Pierre Guinet (?) de Gueffier. - Landeroy (?), 1602. - Urs Warnier, Jehan Warnier and Claude Warnier, 1609, 1652 and 1660. - Urs Sander, 1660.